Candlelight Christmas, Creche Lighting Return To Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL – The holiday season will officially arrive in Plainfield with the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Candlelight Christmas event, set for 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25. The event coincides with the Plainfield Lions Club's 66th annual creche lighting at Plymouth Congregational Church, 24022 W. Lockport St.

Participating downtown businesses will offer pictures with Santa, sleigh rides, crafts, dance performances, letters to Santa and more. The event coincides with Small Business Saturday, a movement created to offset the hype of Black Friday by encouraging shoppers to patronize small local businesses.

The creche lighting begins with an indoor Christmas carol sing-a-long at 6:45 p.m., followed by the lighting outside Plymouth Congregational at 8 p.m. According to the church, "the program will include traditional hymns, the Christmas story from the Scriptures, and music from our special guest artists," including the Spectrum Youth Singers, directed by Oksana Rodak, and the Plainfield East High School Madrigal Singers in colorful Renaissance costumes, directed by Alexandria Kordele.

Community members are invited to gather near the life-size Nativity scene, which will be illuminated as as "Silent Night' is sung by all.

Parking is available behind the church and in the municipal lots.There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken to benefit The Plainfield Ministerial Association Emergency/Crisis Fund.

Image via Patch file/Shannon Antinori